The US pledges $6 billion to protect the oceans
The United States plans to invest nearly $6 billion to restore and protect the world’s oceans from climate change, pollution and other threats.
The announcement was made during the Our Ocean Conference March 2-3 in Panama.
As the US President’s special envoy on climate, John F. Kerry, noted during the conference, that figure is more than double the figure announced by the US for 2022.
Kerry noted that warming the planet means more heat is going into the ocean. Rising sea temperatures can destroy coral reefs and force fish to migrate from their natural habitats. As global temperatures and sea levels rise, it will lead to more heat waves, droughts, floods, hurricanes and wildfires.
“Human actions threaten the viability of ocean ecosystems,” Kerry said.
Almost $5 billion for climate change
Of the total commitment, nearly $5 billion will be used to address the climate crisis.
Working with Congress, the Biden-Harris administration plans to promote:
- Green shipping, including initiatives that encourage the uptake of zero-emission fuels and ships.
- Sustainably located offshore renewable energy.
- Early warning systems in the Pacific and Caribbean.
- Programs designed to help Pacific islands and the Caribbean make their ocean-dependent “blue” economies climate-resilient, among other things.
“We just have to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future,” Kerry said on March 2. “I can’t stress that enough.”
The US also announced:
- $665 million to support sustainable fisheries.
- $200 million to fight ocean pollution.
- $73 million for sustainable blue economies.
- $72 million for maritime security.
- $11 million for marine protected areas.
This is a mix of new initiatives and recent initiatives discussed since the last conference.
Since the first Our Ocean Conference in 2014, participants in more than 70 countries have made more than 2,100 pledges valued at approximately US$128 billion.
